Electronic device

Abstract

During communication periods between transportable electronic cassette and an image reading device by laser light, laser light detection is carried out by peripheral light sensors provided at the periphery of laser light receiving regions of the electronic cassette and the image reading device. The detected value of the received light amount of the laser light by the peripheral light sensor is monitored to see whether or not the detected value exceeds a reference value, the detected value at the start of communication, by a specific value or greater. If the detected value of the received light amount exceeds the reference value by the specific value or greater, then it is concluded that there has been a relatively large change in the relative position of the electronic cassette and the image reading device, and emission is halted of the laser light from the electronic cassette and the image reading device.

1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a receiving device, receiving transmission information from an opposing device by detecting laser light emitted from the opposing device, the opposing device provided with a first emission unit for emitting the laser light and with a first modulating unit for modulating the laser light emitted from the first emission unit according to the transmission information, and by demodulating the transmission information from the detection result of the laser light;   a laser light detection unit, for detecting the laser light irradiated onto a region peripheral to a light receiving region provided on an external face of a casing of the electronic device; and   a control unit, issuing a warning and/or halting emission of the laser light from the opposing device when the laser light is detected by the laser light detection unit.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser light detection unit detects an irradiation amount of the laser light and a warning is issued and/or emission of the laser light from the opposing device is halted when the amount of the laser light is a threshold value or greater. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit sets a reference value based on the amount of the laser light detected by the laser light detection unit when the relative position of a casing of the opposing device and a casing of the electronic device is in an adjusted state to a position enabling communication and the laser light is incident within the light receiving region, and a value that exceeds the reference value by a specific value is used for the threshold value. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit sets as a representative value for the reference value either the irradiated light amount of the laser light detected by the laser light detection unit at the point in time when the transmission information from the opposing device starts to be received by the receiving device, or the irradiated light amount of the laser light detected by the laser light detection unit during a period from when the transmission information from the opposing device starts to be received by the receiving device until a specific period of time has elapsed. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first transmission unit capable of transmitting information to the opposing device, wherein the control unit halts emission of the laser light from the opposing device by transmitting instruction information, instructing halting of laser light emission, to the opposing device using the first transmission unit. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second transmission unit for periodically transmitting specific information to the opposing device during period(s) when the receiving device is receiving transmission information normally from the opposing device, wherein the opposing device is configured to emit laser light from the first emission unit modulated according to the transmission information during the period in which the specific information is periodically received, and the control unit halts emission of the laser light from the opposing device by halting transmission of the specific information to the opposing device by the second transmission unit. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second emission unit for emitting laser light and a second modulating unit for modulating the laser light emitted from the second emission unit according to transmission information, the electronic device being configured for carrying out two-way communication with the opposing device by laser light, wherein when the control unit halts emission of the laser light from the opposing device, emission of the laser light from the second emission unit is also halted. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser light has a wavelength outside of the visible region. 
   
   
       9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser light has a wavelength in the infrared region. 
   
   
       10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is one or other of an imaging device, a portable information device, a transportable radiographic imaging conversion device, or an image read-out device for reading out image information from a transportable radiographic imaging conversion device. 
   
   
       11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the relative position of a casing of the opposing device and a casing of the electronic device is in an adjusted state to a position enabling communication in which the laser light emitted from the first emission unit is incident within a light receiving region provided on an external face of the casing of the electronic device.